Our Story
Preserving family history and connecting generations across centuries.
The Hinchman Heritage Society was created to preserve and share the history, genealogy, and traditions of the Hinchman, Henchman, Hensman, and related family lines. The Society brings together descendants and researchers who are interested in learning more about their family roots, preserving historical records, and strengthening connections among family members across generations.
The Society grew out of early Hinchman family gatherings in the 1990s and was formally organized in Huntington, West Virginia, in April 1994. Its founder and first president was Robert Hinchman, Jr., whose dedication to family history helped establish a lasting foundation for the organization. One of his important goals was to preserve Hinchman family records for future generations, including through the creation of a family archive at Marshall University.
The Society's roots also reach back to family history in England, including the Henchman family traditions of Northamptonshire and the historical figure Bishop Humphrey Henchman, Bishop of London in the 1600s. In America, the Society has placed special emphasis on preserving the history of Hinchman families connected to West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and many other states.
Since its organization, the Hinchman Heritage Society has held family conferences and reunions in locations across the United States. These gatherings have included genealogy research, family history presentations, tours of historic sites, cemetery and homeplace visits, meals, auctions, entertainment, and time for relatives to reconnect.
Today, the Hinchman Heritage Society continues the mission of honoring the past while helping present and future generations better understand where they come from. Through records, photographs, stories, family gatherings, and shared research, the Society works to keep Hinchman family history alive.
Discover genealogical records, family trees, notable members, and historical archives from the Hinchman Heritage Society.